For the second year in a row we chose Catamount Institute as the recipiant of our fundraising throughout the month. Catatmount Institute was established in 1997 by Julie Francis and Howard Drossman when they bought 177 acres from the old Catamount YMCA ranch. Their mission was dedication to inspring ecological stewardship through research, education and leadership. One of the programs that touched our hearts the most was their award-winning Catatmount Club, Young Enviromental Stewards or the “YES Club”. This program was developed to teach disadvantaged youth about leadership, ecology and technology. Their commitment to our youth and our future resonated with both our team and ours guests.
So, to raise as much money as possible for the Catamount Institute, we wanted to put on a fabulous show and exceed everyone’s expectations. The evening started with the wonderful Taico Drummers that set the tone for the show. The dynamic Dj Brandon Lee brought the models out to a remixed version of the Beatles “Come Together” and AWOL Nation”s “Sail”. Our staff had been working for months on predominately recycled outfits that encompaased our theme, “Faces of the World”. Veda’s own Artistic team shined on their first on stage production that included wild hairstyling and makeup.

For the first time, we involved the communinty by asking them to participate by making an outfit for the show. We had several teams and individuals joining in on the fun such as: a group of girls from Freedom Elementary, Core Power Yoga, Malori Rouse from Core Power Yoga and Kirsty Strobridge from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We had 3 fashion segments which were divided by different continents, cultures and inspirations.

Judging the models outfits were, D-Rock from Magic FM, Gazette Person, Becca Siebert and Jan Martin. The first place winner’s were our very own stylists from out Broadmoor Towne Center location, Brandy Traynor and Shalie Kost. Second place was a team of stylists from our University Village location, Cassie Chenoweth and Amber Arena. The third place winner’s was the team from Core Power Yoga. It was a hard decision to make for the judges, but after much deliberation they came to a conclusion.

To represent our community, we had a special segment called “Faces of the Community” which we had the girls from Freedom Elementary, a retired Captain in the Army, an Air Force Academy cadet, a “YES” Club 4th grader, a teacher from Widefield highschool and our fabulous photographer Teresa Lee. As far was entertainment, the crowd was not let down. We had hip hop dancers from Derby Dance, an A Capella version of a portguese love song, guiter playing and beautiful poetry.

Throughout the music and fashion we presented out Greenie Awards. Here is a list of the winners:

Greenie Award Winners:

Individual: Alicia Archibald
Business: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Comunnity: Venetucci Farm
School: Pikes Peak Community College
Eniviromental Group: Trails and Open Spaces Coalition

The night was filled with music, fashion, dance, but most of all it was exciting to see the community come together to raise money for such a worthy cause. We would love to give a huge thanks to all of our supporters and everyone that made the show happen. We hope to see everyone again next year!

Bird feathers and feather extensions have been all the rage in hair fashion for the past couple of seasons. You can get the cute feathers put into your hair in an array of colors and styles which last up to 3 months. If you are one who has tried the current trend or is interested in getting them put in, here are some little known facts about the popular trend and the animals they are sourcing them from:

• Roosters or birds are raised until about 4 years old or sometimes younger until their feathers reach maturity. Often, the birds are then gassed with carbon dioxide and put down an assembly line where their feathers are plucked out. The average lifespan for a rooster is typically 8-12 years.
• Birds are being specifically bred, sometimes genetically altered to produce long luxurious feathers, then slaughtered or sometimes plucked which is extremely painful to the animal.
• There are synthetic feathers out there, but be aware. Many of the fake looking feathers are in fact real. Sometimes packaging states the feather are “natural” or “real”, not always.
• When researching, we found many websites had information about how the feathers were sourced. Some even had pictures and videos from the farms they were sourced from claiming to be “cruelty free” but, because of the popularity of the trend how can we be sure?

Weekly, thousands of birds are being killed or harmed for a fleeting fashion trend. As an Aveda lifestyle salon, we are taking a stance not to provide this service to our guests. Animal cruelty is something we feel very strongly against and is one of Aveda’s founding principals. Because of our beliefs, we do not use animals for our product testing; instead rely on humans and extensive lab testing for our product lines. Make the choice to stand with us and choose an alternative to feathers: colorful or funky colored hair extensions,Hair tinsle, Swaroski Crystal hair extensions or cute flowers or Barretts for your hair make a fashionable statement, not a cruel one.

Thank you for the support and standing up for the helpless animals.

Vibrant Jewel Makeup Look

Step 1: Prep the Skin

Start by prepping your skin using our Aveda Botanical Kinetics Gel Cleanser, spritz skin with Aveda Skin Firiming Toning Agent and then lastly use Aveda Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Lotion to moisturize and prepare skin.

Step 2: Eyes

1)     First, make sure you prime your eyes using a concealer. We brushed Aveda Balsa Concealer all over the lid with a Concealer Brush. Using a primer will ensure your eye makeup lasts throughout the day and will not crease.

2)     Use lightest eyeshadow shade first. Brush Aveda Sandine Single Eye Color all over the lid to the brow bone with a medium eyeshadow brush.

3)     Next, use medium eyeshadow shade. Using a medium eye shadow brush, blend Aveda Crushed Citrine Single Eye Color from crease to lash line.

4)     Lastly, use darkest eyeshadow shade.  Brush Aveda Terraverte Single Eye Color into outer corner of the eye and blend color into crease for a deep smoky look.

5)     Define the lower lash line by using Aveda Black Orchid Eye Definer and in the inner rim of the eye.

6)     Curl lashes and apply Aveda’s Mosscara in Black Forest.

7)     Define eyebrows with any Aveda eye definer in the shade that most closely matches your brows.

Step 3 Foundation

1)       Blend Concealer under the eyes to get rid of any under eye circles.

2)       For our model we used, Aveda Tinited Moisturizer in Beechwood with a Beauty Blender sponge to give her a smooth complexion.

3)       Set foundation using Translucent Powder with a large powder brush.

Step 4: Blush

1)     To give a nice sunkissed glow, swirl Aveda Amazonia Bronzer in the contours of the cheek with a blush brush.

Step 5: Lips

1)     Shade lips with Aveda Vanadinite Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color to complete the look.

You are ready for fall!

Makeup Artist Sheena Albertson

Best Gifts

-Anything homemade: Cards, desserts, dinner, you name it, if it’s homemade; it shows that you put in some effort and really care.

-bringing home your significant other’s favorite restaurant take out after he/she has been at work all day. The two of you can enjoy a gourmet meal in the comforts of your own home and you don’t have to deal with the crowds.

-A romantic getaway. Probably the ultimate Valentine’s Day fantasy for most women and probably most men as well. You have got it made if you are planning to take your sweetie on a trip for Valentine’s Day.

-A shadow box filled with memories from your entire relationship. This again shows the effort you put into it and is a good reminder of when you first fell in love…awwww.

-Anything that sparkles. Jewelry is a guaranteed winner.

-A trip to the spa. What better way to show your loved one that they are in fact loved than sending them somewhere to relax for the day?

-Microbrew of the month club. This is definitely for the man in your life, it’s practical and your man will love you for it.

-Yummy treats for her…and her dog. This shows that you are thinking of not just her, but her little furry bestie as well, she will melt when you give her dog the thoughtful Valentine’s doggy treat and the rest of the night is history.

-A couples cooking class. Something done together is the perfect way to bond and learn something that you will both enjoy for the rest of your lives.

Worst Gifts

-A book on feminism…for your guy. Ummm really?!

-An appliance of any kind. That’s just what a girl or guy wants on a romantic holiday, a gift that says “you need to clean more!”

-Sugar free candy. Why don’t just tell them they are fat?! Even if they are on a diet kick, go with something that’s not candy at all before you give that box full of tears and shame.

-Taking your significant other to a restaurant where you work and get a discount, and then bring your single friend along for the ride.

-A bathroom scale. This goes along with the sugar free candy, just don’t even go there.

-Fake flowers. Nothing says “I’m cheap” like giving fake flowers on Valentine’s Day; get a few real ones for the same price and save yourself from having them thrown in your face.

-Not getting anything because you don’t believe in Valentine’s Day and don’t want to give into the hallmark scam. Again, don’t be cheap, suck it up and do something nice, even if it’s small, it will matter in a big way.

-A stuffed animal when you’re 25. There is a very fine line between cute and just plain corny, a stuffed animal crosses that line by a mile.

-An “I Love You” key chain. The only way this gift will be acceptable is if there is a key to something fantastic on the end of it.

Believe it or not, some of these gifts were actually given to our staff; we all had a great laugh talking about it though. Gifts on the best list just go to show that even the smallest gesture can mean the world and you don’t have to plan for months or spend a fortune to make your significant other feel important. Comment and let us know what some of your best and worst Valentine’s gifts were, we would love to hear them.

Who, being loved, is poor?

-Oscar Wilde

5 Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Ideas:

These ideas are for those whose ideas of love come from watching “The Notebook” or “The Titanic”, and spend months planning for this special day.

5.   Turn off all electronics, make a romantic candle lit dinner for two, and end the night by asking each other questions from conversation cards.

4.  Make love coupons good for:

• A massage
• Champagne and cuddling by the fire
• A dance in the rain
• One night free of cooking and cleaning
• Etc…

3.  Fill up his/her room with balloons that have candy and reasons why you love him/her in each balloon.

2.  Scavenger hunt

• Set notes in all his/her favorite places around town (bakeries, stores, parks, etc.), each one leading to the next and ultimately leading to a candle lit dinner for two at his/her favorite restaurant or a room at an upscale hotel.

1.  Kidnap him/her for a romantic evening out in Denver

• Pick him/her up in a limo with his/her favorite music playing inside
• Have roses and chocolates in hand
• Take him/her to a very romantic dinner
• Followed by a concert or show that they love
• Afterward take a carriage ride through downtown Denver
• Finally, have the limo take you home which has been decorated with roses and candles, as well as a bath ready and waiting, or a gorgeous hotel room decorated the same way.

5 Most Fun Valentine’s Day Ideas

These ideas, while just as romantic as the previous, add an element of playfulness, and are for those who are still a kid at heart.

5.  Make chocolate fondue together, feed each other and get extra messy.

• Everyone loves to play with chocolate, and it also tastes delicious when cleaning it up.

4.  Cover the floor with newspaper and finger paint a masterpiece.

• If you spend Valentine’s Day with your kids, they will absolutely love this one…what could be better than painting with your fingers all over the floor, or better yet…your entire body!

3.  Take turns picking movies, stay up all night watching them, drinking hot chocolate and eating finger foods.

• Chick flick, action movie, chick flick, action movie…that pretty much sums up the night.

2.  Have a fun flirty photo shoot together

• This is great because you will have the memory of this day forever, and professional photographers can make you look REALLY good!

1.  Set up a tent in your backyard, build a fire in the BBQ, roast marshmallows and lay out under the stars

• You don’t have to be worried about bears, snakes or going to the bathroom outside…sounds like a perfect situation.

5 Most Outrageous Valentine’s Day Ideas

These ideas are for those who do not have any sort of budget or just want to do something completely random and unexpected for Valentine’s Day. It’s safe to say that the top three ideas on this list are inspired by the show “The Bachelor,” and the other two are inspired by hippies.

5. Volunteer at a local shelter together for the evening.

• What could be more romantic than giving to those in need?

4.  Take flying trapeze lessons together.

• Want to see what kinds of crazy body positions you and your significant other can get in to? Here you go!

3.  Wake up super early and take a hot air balloon ride followed by breakfast at his/her favorite place.

• Warning: If your significant other is NOT a morning person…probably not a good idea to plan this one. You may actually end up getting dumped rather than praised.

2.  Take a helicopter ride over Denver at night followed by a rooftop dinner.

• This is just plain awesome…expensive, but crazy sweet nonetheless. This idea will only get the full affect if your significant other does not have a fear of flying.

1.  Get engaged!

• This is pretty much the most outrageous, romantic/cliché thing a person could do for Valentine’s Day…if you are a girl, you can make it really outrageous by being the one to propose!

Whatever you choose to do for Valentine’s Day whether it be over the top or nothing at all because you are like a few of our staff members who think Valentine’s  Day is nothing but a holiday set in place to make Hallmark some money, we know it will be special. If you have any of your own ideas, or stories of your past Valentine’s Days, we would love for you to share them with us. Love is wonderful no matter how it’s expressed and that’s why it’s so universal but so unique at the same time. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone…may it be filled with love and joy!

“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.”

-Alexander Smith

Sources: theworldrace.org

Ha! We have taken over! The regularly scheduled blog poster has been temporarily moved away from the computer, so just ignore the sounds of banging from the closet over there.

It is us, your feet. We’ve missed the care you lavish on us in the summer….running us through the grass, letting us breathe in cute sandals and flip-flops, and, of course, regular pedicures!

Have you looked at us lately? We miss you! The boots, while cute (but not as cute as the sandals), squish us (except for your Uggs and, boy, are they toe-sty, err, toasty!) and the socks and nylons, well, sometimes they make us…glow (or sweat – you understand).

While we certainly don’t want to go running through the yard quite yet, we’d love a little more attention. We have some demands requests:

• More lotion please! We do love our Foot Relief, but to change it up, have you tried the Caribbean Body Crème? It’s luscious and adds lovely moisture to our dry bits.
• Speaking of dry bits, exfoliation would be lovely. We could breathe so much better. You could use a foot file or even a nice salt scrub. You can create your own with Aqua Therapy Salts and Beautifying Composition. The Beautifying Composition is one of the most moisturizing oils Aveda makes (try it on our cuticles, too!).
• We’d love a foot massage…Between all of those holiday parties (and, of course, totally cute holiday shoes) and being stuffed into the aforementioned boots, we need a little loving touch. So as you slather on the Foot Relief, could you take a few extra seconds to give us a little massage?
• Oh! Oh! Oh! We know – how about this?? A mini at-home pedicure! Soak us and exfoliate us. Then, grab a couple of wet hand towels and put them in the microwave for about a minute and a half (long enough to warm but not long enough to burn). Slather on some yummy delicious lotion and wrap us in the hot towels. Relax. Sigh. We’re happy just thinking about it! When the towel cool off, remove them, pat us dry and, well, we’d love some fresh polish, if you have the time…*blush*.
• Or, how about this? Make an appointment at your favorite Veda and give us the treatment we yearn for. Admit it; you miss the spa pedicure, too, don’t you?

Signed, with love,

Your Feet

P.S. We’ll let out the blog poster as soon as we can talk the arms and hands into it.

LOOK #1: Daytime Holiday Look

Step1: Prep the skin

To cleanse Summer’s skin we used Aveda Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser. The tourmaline line is great for dry skin and leaves the skin feeling and looking radiant. For her moisturizer we used the Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Cream very lightly because it is a heavier moisturizer. To tone her skin we used Aveda Skin firming Toning Agent.

Step2: Eye

1) For Summer’s primer we used Aveda Eye Shadow Transformer to make sure her eye makeup would last throughout the day.

2) Using Aveda Black Tulip Trio Eye Shadow on Summer we started with the medium shade all over her bottom lid to the crease.

3) To give her a light smoky eye we applied the darkest shade in her crease using the smudge brush. Start from the outside in and follow the crease until directly above the pupil.

4) We used Aveda Single Color Eye Shadow in Illumination to highlight the brow bone.

5) To line summers eyes we used Aveda Black Orchid Liner around the entire eye. Line the inner rim of the lower lash line. After applying the liner we applied the darkest shade from the Black Tulip Trio on top of the liner to set it to prevent any smudging.

Step3: Brows

We applied the Dark Brown Shadow from the Aveda Gobi Sand Trio with a small eye shadow brush to fill in her eye brows.

Step4: Concealer

We used Aveda Concealer in Hazelnut on Summer to hide any dark circles and anywhere we saw any unevenness in her skin tone.

Step5: Foundation

For Summer’s foundation we used Aveda Tinted Moisturizer in Burl. We used the Beauty Blender Sponge to apply the foundation. The beauty blender is a professional make-up sponge that helps apply foundation evenly and it is my personal favorite when applying foundation. To set the foundation we lightly brushed Aveda Dual Foundation in Twig.

Step6: Blush

The blush we used was Aveda Face Accent Rose Blossom just on the apples of her cheeks.

Step7: Lips

To give summer a nice winter look we used Aveda Uruku color gloss in Peony. To give a little shine we added Aveda Lip Shine in Grapefruit Pulp.

LOOK #2: Evening Holiday Look

Step1: Prep The Skin

We first started by prepping Cassie using Aveda All Sensitive Cleanser, All Sensitive Moisturizer and Aveda Skin Firming Toning Agent to tone her skin.

Step2: Eyes

1) First you want to use a primer on the eye lids. On Cassie we used Aveda Eye Shadow Transformer. The transformer is used for many different things, it can be used to transform your shadows into bright vibrant colors as well as work as a primer to prevent creasing in your shadows, and make your eye shadow last longer throughout the day.

2) Using Aveda Copper Haze Eye Shadow Trio, we started on the bottom lid using the lightest shade out of the trio from lash line to crease.

3) Next we used the darkest shade from the trio in the crease using the contour brush, making sure to blend inside the crease and a little bit above to give it that smoky affect

4) We highlighted with Aveda Single Eye Shadow Illumination under the brow bone and near the tear duct to bring out and brighten the eye.

5) We then used Aveda Black Orchid Eye Liner getting down into the lash line as close as possible. Using an Aveda Smudge Brush, we brushed light upward strokes smudging the liner up and outward creating a soft line to enhance the eye without a harsh line. On the bottom lash line we used the liner to give the eye a dramatic effect.

6) Last step on the eyes, we used Aveda Black Forest Mascara

Step3: Brows

We used Aveda Cocoa Eye Pencil to fill in Cassie’s eye brows.

Step4: Concealer

Aveda concealer that we used was Bamboo for under the eyes and anywhere Cassie had any blemishes or redness that needed more coverage

Step5: Foundation

For Cassie’s foundation we used Aveda Tinted Moisturizer in Burl to give her a nice natural glow. We used Aveda Translucent Loose Powder to set the foundation so it will last her all day

Step6: Blush and Bronzer

Cassie has a really nice olive skin tone so we wanted to give her a little sun kissed look. We used Aveda Bronze Glow Bronzer under her cheek bones blending into the hair line and on her nose and chin. The blush we just put on the apples of her cheeks using Aveda Rose Blossom Face Accent.

LOOK #3: Holiday Party Look

Step1: Prep

To prep Carrie’s skin for make-up we used Aveda All Sensitive Cleanser, All Sensitive Moisturizer, and Aveda Skin Firming Toning Agent to tone her skin.

Step2: Eyes

For this look we wanted to keep the eyes more natural and keep the focus more on the lips.

1) To prime the eyes we used Aveda Eye Shadow Transformer.

2) Using the Gobi Sands Trio, we brushed the medium color from the lash line to the crease.

3) For the crease we lightly used the darkest shade out of the Gobi Sands Trio to give the eye definition.

4) Underneath the brow bone we used the lightest shade out of the Gobi Sands Trio to bring out the shape of the brows.

5) For Carrie’s liner we used Aveda Liner in cocoa, lining the entire eye top and bottom lash line. To set the liner we used the darkest shade in the Gobi Sands Trio on top of the liner. It’s always good to set your liner with a shadow on top. It will set the liner to keep it from melting into any creases.

6) We used Aveda Black Forest Mascara on her top and bottom lashes

Step3: Brows

For Carrie’s eye brows we just used a disposable mascara wand and brushed them to set her brows into place to give them a nice shape.

Step4: Concealer

We used Aveda Balsa Concealer to hide any dark circles and cover any redness on the skin before applying the foundation.

Step5: Foundation

Using Aveda Tinted Moisturizer in Beechwood, we took the Beauty Blender Sponge to apply the foundation. To set the foundation we used Aveda Translucent Powder.

Step6: Blush and Bronzer

For Carrie’s bronzer and blush we wanted to define the cheek bones. We used Aveda Brazilian Sun Bronzer under the check bones. For her blush we used Aveda Peachlights Face Accent.

Step7: Lips

We wanted Carrie’s lips to be bold and be the focus point. We used Aveda Nourishment Lip Color in Cherrybud with Aveda Cherryblossom Gloss to give her a nice bold lip.

General Rules for Applying Make-up:

Step 1: Prep the skin

Always prep the skin before any make-up application. It gives you a fresh clean pallet and helps the make-up look fresh.

First: cleanse the skin to rid of any excess oil or make-up.

Second: Moisturize. Choose a light moisturizer to use under your make-up. A heavy moisturizer can stop your foundation from blending in nicely. After applying your moisturizer make sure to let the product sink into the skin. Blot with a tissue to remove any excess shine.

Third: Tone. This helps lock in the moisturizer and tone and tighten the skin

Step 2: Eyes

We always start with eyes first, most women start with foundation first. We find that starting with the eyes makes my applications easier. It allows you to wipe away any fallen eye shadow under the eyes and start fresh with the foundation.

Step 3: Brows

Fill in your brows with a shadow that is close or one shade darker than your natural brow color. If you prefer a brow pencil we recommend filling in the brows using the pencil with a disposable mascara wand. Take the pencil and brush it along the mascara wand and then begin to fill in the brows. This technique creates a very natural way of filling in the eye brows.

Step 4: Concealer:

Using a concealer brush, apply concealer that is closest to your skin tone under the eye to cover any dark circles. You can also apply concealer anywhere on the skin that might have redness, blemishes, or skin imperfections.

Step 5: Foundation

Depending on your skin, age, and how you wear your make-up on a daily bases really plays into what kind of foundation is right for you. Aveda has three types of foundation to choose from.

Tinted moisturizer: The tinted moisturizer gives the skin a natural glow. It naturally evens out the skin tone with a light coverage without setting into any lines and wrinkles.

Dual foundation: The dual foundation balances skin tone, and minimizes the look of fine lines, pores and imperfections. It gives a nice full coverage and can be used wet or dry

Pressed powder: The pressed powder absorbs any unwanted excess oil while giving the skin a medium coverage.

Step 5: Blush and Bronzer

To warm the face, apply bronzer to the temples, chin, and bridge of the nose. Apply blush to the apple of the cheeks to give you that natural glow.

Step 6: Lips

Prep the lips with a lip conditioner like Aveda Renewing Lip Treatment or Aveda Lip Saver to moisturize the lips before applying your favorite lip stick. Choose a color that will look best and make the make-up application look complete

With these easy steps, we are sure that you will be able to create an amazing winter look, whatever the occasion. If you are still a little unsure, make an appointment at any of our three locations for a make-up application or make-up lesson. Our professionals will help you find the perfect look this holiday season.

Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sources: makeupbag.net

Giving in the Name of Others

One of our massage therapists likes to honor and give at the same time. For instance, her uncle likes planes, so she’ll purchase a plane for a child who needs a toy and will give the gift in honor of her beloved uncle.

Giving Twice

Another spa staff member purchases grocery store gift cards from her child’s school and uses them to purchase other gift cards for various stores. Consider checking with your local school to see if they have a scrip program. Stores will often sell gift cards and certificates, also called scrip, to schools, who then get to retain a certain percentage of sales as fundraising. Use these cards and certificates to purchase gifts for loved ones and you are giving twice!

No Waste and Still Fun

Consider having a No-Waste holiday. Wrap your gifts in reusable or recycled materials – cloth, comics, fun bags that can be used again and again.

Making a Difference

Maybe Aunt Matilda actually does have everything she needs and her house won’t hold another pair of oh-so-cute salt and pepper shakers. Aunt Matilda does, however, have a soft spot in her heart for her favorite charity. Instead of scouring the malls for more condiment holders, consider making a donation in her name to Auntie’s favorite charity.

Reduce Someone’s Carbon Footprint

Purchase carbon offsets for the ones you love! Go to the website for Project C, The Colorado Carbon Fund to find out more.

Operation “Let’s Say Thanks”

The Xerox Corporation is sponsoring a program where you can send a free e-postcard to troops serving abroad.  Do it and make someone’s day. Then do it again. And again.

If You Love ‘Em, Plant One On (or For) ‘Em

Show your evergreen love for your special people by purchasing a gift certificate for a tree to plant this spring.

What are some of your favorite creative and eco-friendly gifts?

• Make sure you’re getting some aerobic exercise. We suppose you could count dodging other shoppers in the mall, but we were thinking more along the lines of walking, jogging, swimming, or other fun and endorphin-releasing experiences. How about blasting some of your favorite music and dancing around the living room? Sure, if you really want to, you could dance with a feather duster or a vacuum cleaner, but make sure you’re having fun!
• Call today to schedule your salon and spa appointments for upcoming special events! We want to make sure you have plenty of time for cuts, color, manicures, pedicures, and waxing!
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Get yourself a cute water bottle and make sure you’re sipping from it regularly throughout the day. If the bottle has measurements, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how much water you’re drinking.
• Get some good rest! Even Merry Gentlemen have to do it. If you have a big party scheduled for the upcoming weekend, consider going to bed before 10 p.m. during the rest of the week.
• Shop early! Pace yourself. Make a list and stick with it. Pay with cash whenever possible. Consider hiring high school or college students to wrap your presents. Sometimes students need to fulfill service hours for school and this may be a great way to help everyone involved!
• Breathe deeply – even if it’s 3-5 deep belly breaths while sitting at a red light. Take a few minutes each day to reconnect with yourself and your breath. Deep breathing allows more oxygen to get into your system and resets your stress responses.
• Give yourself the gift of relaxation. Schedule a massage, facial, or other spa treatment just because you deserve it!
• At the end of the day, write up a gratitude list. You can’t worry and feel grateful at the same time. Which would you rather do?

These are some of our staff recommended strategies to navigate the Holiday Season. What are some of your favorite  and time-tested ways of Stamping Out Stress?

Ritual of Relief

Includes

• 4.2 fl oz Foot Relief
• 4.2 fl oz Hand relief
• 1.4 fl oz travel size Foot Relief
• 1.4 fl oz travel size Hand relief
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

The extra moisture needed during winter months, smaller sizes are also great if you are traveling this holiday season.

Why we love it:

The Hand Relief and Foot Relief can pretty much handle the harshest of cracks and the driest of feet as well as hands. It smells amazing, sort of like “cake” as some of our team members say, and will leave your hands and feed feeling soft for hours.

Grounding Ritual

Includes

• Soy wax candle with organic cassia, vanilla and ginger aroma
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

Curling up next to a good book or movie during a cold evening.

Why we love it:

The vanilla and ginger aromas put a smile on your face, help you to relax and make you feel warm and full of joy. This is a favorite of Team member Lindsay.

Unearth Exhilaration

Includes

• 250 ml Rosemary Mint Shampoo
• 250 ml Rosemary Mint Conditioner
• 200 ml Rosemary Mint Body Lotion
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

Starting your day off right

Why we love it:

The rosemary-mint aroma really awakens your senses and helps you to feel invigorated.

Destined for Smoothness

Includes

• 250ml Smooth Infusion Shampoo
• 250 ml Smooth Infusion Conditioner
• 40 ml travel size Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother
• 30 ml travel size Light Elements Smoothing Fluid
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

Taming frizzy tresses

Why we love it:

The shampoo and conditioner helps create a strong base for smoothness and then finishing it off with the styling products will bring you to the smooth destination you were longing for. As Aveda says, “One smooth look, 12 smooth hours.”

Sensory Treasures

Includes

• 250 ml Replenishing Body Moisturizer
• 1 oz Lavender Fleurs Singular Note
• 1.4 fl oz travel size Soothing Aqua Therapy
• 8 ml travel size Chakra 4 Balancing Body Mist
• Chakra Ritual Card
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

A relaxing night in during long winter nights

Why we love it:

This gift set has all the ingredients for the perfect recipe to relax renew, restore and live well. A few drops of Lavender and 2 scoops Aqua Therapy in your bath, Replenishing Body Moisturizer afterward and a spritz of  Chakra Mist…put it all together and you’ll never want to leave the house again. This gift set is a favorite of team members Trindy and Missy.

Balancing Ritual

Includes

• 1 oz Sandalwood Singular Note
• 8 ml travel size Chakra 1 Balancing Body Mist
• 40 ml travel size Foot Relief
• Chakra Ritual Card
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

When you are feeling slightly off kilter

Why we love it:

Everyone has off days, but your entire day doesn’t have to be full of awkward moments and uneasy feelings. This gift set will help you re-balance and feel in control again. The best part is…it can fit in your pocket…well not quite, but almost. This is a favorite of team members Tess and Elizabeth.

Follow the Sun

Includes

• 50 ml travel size Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser
• 40 ml travel size Sun Care Protective Hair Veil
• 30 ml travel size Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque
• FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory

Perfect for:

Getting rid of build up after swimming or protecting hair from the sun when skiing / snowboarding.

Why we love it:

For those of you that get your hair colored, you know how damaging these activities can be, and it’s nice to know that we can protect and cleanse our hair so we don’t have to feel so guilty about living our lives.

Shining Lip Trio

Includes

• 3 mini Lip Shine (7 ml each)

Juneberry
Night Iris
Golden Prism

• FREE GIFT OF HOPE certified organic cotton pouch with tagua nut embellishment

Perfect for:

On-the-go beauty

Why we love it:

These Lip Shines are small enough to easily fit into your purse and the colors are so universal, they look great on everyone. This git set is a great stocking stuffer and is a favorite of Manager Doreesa.

Now that we have shown you our amazing holiday gifts sets, I bet you are all wondering what the heck the FREE GIFT OF HOPE tagua nut accessory is. Welll, that’s where the extra special part (tagua nuts) by women artisans in Columbia to earn income for better health care, better education, and a better life.

Aveda, in partnership with an organization called Hope for Women, “has completed the largest fair trade purchase of an organic sustainably harvested rainforest product in Columbian history,” (aveda.com) and each gift set purchase this holiday season really is a GIFT OF HOPE for hundreds indigenous people of Columbia as well as for hundreds of acres of Columbian rainforest. The boxes that the gift sets come in are designed to resemble the inside of a tagua nut, and are the perfect packages for your gifts.

Please watch this touching video on the people and rainforests of Columbia and you can help preserve their life and their land. After watching the video, leave a comment and tell us what  your favorite holiday set is or what you thought of the video.

“SMALL GIFT. BIG HOPE.”